Automatic rapid-fire gun.



J. C. STURGEON.

AUTOMATIC RAPID FIRE GUN.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 5.19m.

1.290,85@ Patented .131.11919 JOHN C. STUBGEbN, OF ERIE, PENNSYLVANIA.

AUTOMATIC RAPID-FIRE GUN.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 7, 1919.

Application tiled May 5, 1917. Serial No. 166,623.

To all whom z't ma concern.'

' ABe it known t at I, Jol-1N C. STURGEON,

a citizen of the United States, residing at Erie, in the county of Erie and State of n Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements 'in Automatic Rapid- Fire Guns; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact descripn tion of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, forming part of this specification.

This invention relates to automatic rapidfire uns, and has for its principalobjects the improvements in the cartridge-feeding mechanism, in the mechanism for preventing the premature discharge of the arm prlor to the complete locking of the breechbolt, and in gas regulating and sediment t traipping mechanism.

also consists in the structure of the parts of the operative mechanism of the arm and their coperative combination in the arm substantially as hereinafter described.

These and other features of my invention are hereinafter fully set forth and described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings in'which- Figure 1, is a longitudinal vertical section of the frame and parts of the device, with parts in elevation.

Fig. 2, is an enlarged transverse section of the same on the line A in Fig. `1 looking in the direction of the arrow.

Fig. 3, is an enlarged transverse section on the line B in Fig. l looking in the direction of the arrow.

Fig. 4,v is an enlarged view in elevation of a section of the breech-bolt locking mechanism when unlocked.

Fig. 5, is a View Vinelevation of the vertically-movable sprocket spring winding mechanism.

Fig. 6, is a top or plan view of the same.

Fig. 7, shows the cartridge conveying sprocket partially in elevation and partially in section.

In these drawings 1 indicates. the gun frame, 2 portions of the barrel, 3 thegascylinder, 4 a .section of the gun-butt, 5 the bolt locking frame, 9 the verticallymovable locking-lug mounted and operating in said frame, 10 the spring for moving the breechbolt locking-lug mechanism and the breechbolt forward, 11 the rod extending from the plston 12 in the gas-cylinder 3 to and communicatingwith the lookin -lug 9 andrlockin lug frame 7-8 to un ook the breechbo t 5 by moving the locking-lug 9 downward to disengage it from the locking-lu 13 on the frame, and then'move it, the loe ing-lug frame 7--8 and the breech-bolt 5 backward, and 14 a spring carried by the locking-lug frame 7 8, engaging the end 15 of the rod 11 for movin the rod v11 forward in the locking-lug rame 7-8,and engaging the locking-lug 9 with the lugs 13 on the frame to lock the breech-bolt 5 when in its forwardmost position ready for lining. This movement of the locking-lug 9-w1th relation 'to the locking-lug frame 7 8 is effected by a stud 16 on the rod 11, which engages an inclined slot 17 in the lower part of the locking-lug 9; the movement forward and backward of the stud 16 .in the slot 17 operates to raise and lower the locking-lug 9 as illustrated -in Figs. 1 and 4.

On the rear end of the firing-pin. 6 .which is mounted in the breech-bolt 5, and spring actuated (not shown) in the usual manner, I secure a block 18 rovided with a searnotch 1 9 adapted to e engaged during the rearward movement of the Ibreech-bolt by sears 20l21, pivoted in the gun-frame, and to retain the firing-pin during the forward movement of the breech-bolt untilreleased by the operation of the sears 20-21. One of these sears 20 is provided with a downwardly extending arm 22 (shown in dotted lines) adapted to be enga ed bywanwupbvr in dotted lines) mounted on a rock-shaft 24 removably mounted in the lower part of the frame 1. The rock-shaft 24 is provided with a forwardly extending arm 25 adapted to be engaged by the heel 26 of a trigger 27 removably pivoted in the lower part of the gun-frame 1.

To retain these parts in the normal posiftions there is a flat spring 28 secured to the lever 32Y provided with a spring 33 for moving its Alower end into the path of the stud 16, as illustrated in Fig. 4, so that when the stud 16 moves forward to the end of the slot 17 in the locking lug, thereby completing the locking movement of the lu it engages the lever 32, which meanwhi e has been raised into contact with the end of the rod by the upward movement of the locking-lug 9, and operates the lever 32 to move the rod 3() rearwardly and thereby discngage the sear 21; thus, it will be observed that if the operator by means of the trigger 27 holds the sear 20 out of engagement with the scar-notch 19,I the completlon of the locking movement of the lockinglugT 9 actuating the lever 32 will automatically release the Sear 21 and permit the auto'- maticrepetition of the firing operation, so long as the operator retains thesear 20 out of engagement, until the cartrldge supply is exhausted. To prevent premature firing of the arm there is an extension 34 on the scar-notch block 18 which extends forward under lthe rear portion of the breech-bolt 5.y

In the path of this part 34 there is provided a rocking lever stop 35 pivoted in the .part 8 of the locking frame; one arm 36 of this lever stop extends inward between the parts of the lockir. -lug 9 where it is engaged when the loc ing-lug 9 is. raised, by a transverse pin 37therein, which operates to ylower the stop 35 on the other arm thereof so as to permit .the end of the part 34 to pass over it. In Fig. 4 I show the parts of this mechanism inftheir positions when the 'breech-bolt is unlocked; a spring 38 operating on the stop to retain it in operative position as shown in Fig. 4 while the breech-bolt is unlocked. L

For feeding cartridges to the arm there -is a sprocket-wheel 39 mounted in suitable bearings preferably on the` side-plate 40 hinged to the gun-frame 1, as illustrated in F lige/"3 and 4. This sprocket-wheel 39 (see Fig. 7 is provided at its rear end with a V,ggearfth the hub 42 of which extends into and 'rotates "freelyin'a y sprocket-wheel 39; and in this chamber 43 there is a spiral sprocket-motor spring 44, one end of which engages the gear h ub 42, and the other a `recess in the sprocket-wheel 39 vat the opposite end of the chamber 43.

.To retain these parts in their proper posishown, to form a bearing for a cartridge,

belt 47, as clearly shownV in Fi'gr'f3, towliich cartridge belt 47, clips. 48 are, secured to clamp cartridges 4 9 thereto, which carchamber 43 in thew Lacasse tridges are engaged by the teeth of the sprocket; the cartridges 49 being )referably held in contact with the sproc et by a hinged spring actuated plate 49 bearing thereon as the 'sprocket 39 is rotated by the action of the spring 44 to move the cartridges in front of the retracted breech-bolt 5, as illustrated in Fig. 3, from whence the bolt on its forward movement pushes the cartridge in fronty of it through the clips 48 and into the barrel. This operation of the sprocket occurs only after the breechbolt 5 has fully completed its rearward traverse, and its rotation is controlled so as to leave the cartridge in front of the bolt by a receding stop 51 hereinafter more fully described, which engages one of the sprocket-teeth 50 as illustrated in Fig. 3.

For retaining the sprocket spring 44 at suitable tension to operate the sprocketwheel 39 there is a dog 52 which engages the teeth of the gear wheel 41 as illustrated in 2; and to rotate the gear wheel 41 and wlnd up the spring 44 what it relaxes at each forward movement of the sprocket wheel 39 there is provided a vertically movable frame 53 clearly shown in Figs. 5 and 6. This frame is mounted in guides 54 on the 'gun frame directly under thegear 41 so that it will move freely up and down therein. On the front part 7 of the locking-lug frame there is a forwardly projecting cam surface 55 havin on its upper part a sleeve 56 through which the rod 11 operates, and in this cam surface 55 there .1s a cam groove 57, the central part of which is depressed below the end parts thereof, and on the frame 53 there is a laterally projecting stud 58 which engages said cam groove and operates to lower the frame 53 midway of the traverse of the cam surface 55 and raise the frame 53 at each end of the traverse of the cam surface 55 which travels in unison with the breech-bolt 5. In this frame there is mounted a vertical shaft 59 provided with a segment of gear teeth 60 adapted to engage the teeth of the gear 41 whemtljame is in a raised position. i

The shaft 59 isy provided'with a spiral spring 61 for rotating the shaft in one direction, andanY` arm 62 adapted tobe engaged by a projection 63 on the cam sur- Y face 55 near its rear end, which operates to rotate the shaft 59 in the opposite. direction, and as at the time when the projection 6 3 engages the arm 62 the segment of teeth 60 is in engagement with the teeth of the gear wheel S41, it operates to rotate the gear` wheel 41 and wind up the sprocket spring 44 the proper amount to maintain normal tenslon, while when the stud 58 1s traversing the central part of the cam slot 57, the gear segment 60 is lowered out of contact with the gear 41, and the spring 61 then operating on the shaft 59 returns the gear segment 60 to its normal position ready to be again engaged by the projection 63 operating on the arm 62 as above noted. On the front side of the frame 53 there i's rovided the sprocket wheel stop 51- above refbrredto, which stop moves up and down with the frame 53 so as to permit the upper end thereof to be withdrawn from infront of the sprocket tooth 50 with which it is engaged and .raised behind it so as to engage the next tooth 50 of the sprocket when it is rotated. This rearward movement of the stop is caused b the spring 64 which acts thereon when t e frame 53 is at the lowermost point of traverse, and when the rearward traverse of the cam is completed the frame 53 is again raised so that the stop is in operative position as above noted.

In conducting the gas from the bore of the barrel 2 to the c llnder 3' there is avertical passage 65 w ich discharges into a chamber 66 directly below the passage 65; the bottom of this chamber is preferably closed by a removable screw plug 67 and extending upward from the center of this screw plug there is astandard 68 having preferably a conical top 69 thereon, which receives the blast of gas as. it comes from the passage 65 and spreads i t, a1lowing the sediment carried therewith to. pass below the conical head 69 while .the gas passes from the chamber 66 through a passage 70 intothe cylinder 3 and against the piston 12 on the end of the rod 11. For controlling and regulating the iiow of gas through the passage 70 `tvhere'lis an adjustable thumbscrew 72 provided, the-end of which enters the passage 7 0 and can be operated to constrict the same. -On the rod 11 there is preferably provided la collar 73 adapted to receive a wrench for rotating the rod 1l when it is desired to detach it from the bolt-locking mechanism; it also performs the function of contacting with the end of the sleeve 56 when the rod- 11 has been moved far enough to operate the bolt-locking mechanism, and thereafter the rod 11 and sleeve 56 move Qn backward in unison, until the breech-bolt and the boltlocking mechanism have completed their rearward traverse.`

In operation 'as the gun. is discharged, a portion of the gases pass from ythe barrel into the cylinder,`c0ntacting with the piston 12 therein forcing it rearwardly until the collar 73 on -t-he rod 11 contacts with the end of the sleeve 56; this operates to compress the spring 14 and release the locking-lug 9 from the gun-frame. These parts, the locking-lug frame and the breech-.bolt secured thereto, then move on backward compressing the spring 10 until the backward traverse of these parts is completed. Meanwhile the cam-slot 57 acts on the vertically movable frame 53 to move it downward and upward as hereinbefore described. At the completion of the backward traverse of the breechbolt 5, it has withdrawn the spent cartridge shell from the barrel, and the sprocket then bein free to rotate, is rotated one tooth, Whic moves a fresh cartridge in front of the breech-bolt, and pushes the spent car- `on the gun-frame, securely locking the breech-bolt in liring position; and just as this movement of the locking-lug is completed, the stud 16 acting on the lever 32 operates to automatically release the sear 20 from the scar-notch 19 allowin the firingpin 6 to move forward and expode the cartridge; and this series of operations continues so long as the sear 21 is retained out of engagement, until the cartridge supply is exhausted.

I have thus shown and described my invention so as to enable others skilled in the art to which the invention appertains to construct and utilize the same. I do not, however, confine myself to the exact construction, arrangement and combination of the several parts of the mechanism shown and described, as many modifications can be made therein Without departin from the spiri-t of the invention. There ore what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a gun, a frame, a reciprocating breech-bolt .mounted therein, a locking-lug frame on the breech-bolt, la locking-lug therein, means for-operating the breech-bolt and locking mechanism, and means on the locking-lug frame operatable by the lockinglug for preventing the discharge of the gun .before the breech-bolt is completely locked.

2. In a un, a frame, 'a reciprocating breech-bolt mounted therein, a locking-lug frame secured to the breech-bolt, a reciprocating locking-lug mounted in said lockinglug frame, gas and spring actuated mecha.- nism for operating said locking-lug and means on the locking-lug operatable only when the breech-boltis fully locked for leasing the firing-pin.

3.`In a n, a frame, a reciprocating breech-bolt mounted therein, a locking-lug frame secured thereto, a vertically movable locking-lug mounted in said frame, gas and spring mechanism operating said locking-lug and reciprocating the locking mechanism and breech-bolt, a reciprocating firing-pin in 'the Abreech-bolt, a lever on the locking-lug frame, movable into the path of the traverse of the firing-pin mechanism when the breechvbolt is unlocked, and means on the lockinlg1 lug for removing the lever from the pat of the firing-pin mechanisml when the bolt is locked,

4. In a gun, a frame, a reciprocating breech bolt mounted therein, a lookin lug frame thereon, a locking-lug in said ran-ie, a firing-pin iiwunted in 'the breech-bolt, a gas cylinder under the barrel and communieating with the bore thereof, a. piston in said cylinder, a'rod from said piston communicating with the locking-lug frame, a

stud thereon operating in an inclined slot in the locking-lug, and a spring on the locking-lug engaging the rear end of said rod, a lever mounted on the locking-lug so that the lower end of it will be engaged by said stud, a rod extending from the sear mechanism adapted to be engaged by the upper end of said lever when the locking-lug is in a locked position.

5. In a gun, a frame, a reciprocating breech-bolt therein, a, firing-pin in said breech-bolt, a scar for engaging said firingpin, a locking-lug frame secured to said breech-bolt, a vertically movable locking-lug therein, means for operating said lockinglug, a rod extending from the searto the locking-lug and means on the locking-lug adapted Sear as the locking movement of the lockinglug is completed.l

6. In a gun, a frame, a reciprocating breech-bolt therein, a firing-pin in the breecli-bolt, sear mechanism for the firingpin, a locking-lug frame secured .to the breech-bolt, a vertically movable locking-lug in said frame, a centrally pivot-ed lever stop on the locking-lug frame movable into the path of the firing-pin mechanism when the breech-bolt is unlocked, and out of said paith when the breechbolt is locked, means f or operating the locking-lug, a centrally pivotedslever on the locking-lug, the upper end of which communicates witlrthe firing-pin sear mechanism and operates it when the breech-bolt is fullyl locked, and means on the locking-lug operating means engaging the lower end of said lever and operating it when the breech-bolt is fully locked.

7. In a gun having cartridge inlet and outlet openings, a reciprocating breech-bolt, a sprocket-wheel mounted in the cartridge inlet opening parallel with the breech-bolt, a stop adapted to limit the rotation of the sprocket-wheel, a spiral motor spring for rotating the sprocket, a gear wheel connected to said spring, a segmental gear intermittently engaging said gear wheel, a cam for raising and lowering said segmen tal gear, and a reciprocating stud intermittently operating said segmental gear.

8. A gun, a frame, a reciprocating breechbolt and Abreech-bolt locking mechanism to engage said rod, and operate said Lacoste mounted in said frame, a sprocket Wheel parallel with the breech-bolt, a motor spring in said' sprocket wheel, a gear Wheelconnected with said motor spring, a vertically movable member under said gear Wheel, a reciprocating cam,a stud on said member engaging said cam, a segmental gear on the top of said member, a shaft supporting said segmental gear, an arm on said shaft, and a stud on said reciprocating cam, adapted to engage said arm 9. In a gun, a frame, a reciprocating breech-bolt, a cam surface below the breech-bolt reciprocating in unison therewith, and having a cam slot therein depressed at its central portion below the end portions thereof, a vertically movable meinber engagedby said cam-slot, andmoved up and down thereby, a segmental gear mounted on said member, and a stud on said camsurface adapted to rotate said segmental gear.

10. In a gun, a frame, a breech-bolt, a cartridge feeding sprocket parallel there with, a spiral spring for rotating said sprocket, a spur gear connected to one end of said spiral spring, a vertically movable member, a segmental gear thereon adapted to intermittently engage said spur gearl and rotate it, a dog on said member engaging said spur gear, a cani surface below the breech-bolt moving in unison therewith, a cam-slot in said cam-surface, a stud on said verticallyv movable member engaging said cam-slot, a lug on said cam-surface adapted to operate said segmental gear, and a stop on said member adapted to be moved by the action of said member into and out of the path of the teeth of the sprocket.

11. In a gun, a frame, a cartridge carrying sprocket Wheel mounted thereon, a vertically movable member, cam mechanism raising and lowering said member, and a stop pivoted to said member, so as to be brought into and out of the path of the teeth of the sprocket to limit the intermittent rotation thereof.

12. In a gun, a frame, a reciprocating breech-bolt, .a locking-lug frame secured thereto, aV locking-lug operating in said frame, means for operating said locking-lug, a cartridge moving sprocket-Wheel, a cam on said locking-lug frame projecting forward under the breech-bolt and reciprocating in unison therewith, and means connecting the cam and sprocket-Wheel for operating the sprocket-Wheel.

13. In a gun, a frame, a reciprocating breech-'bolt mounted therein, a firing-pin in said breech-bolt, a sear for engaging the firing-pin, a locking-lug frame secured to the breech-bolt, a vertically movable lockinglug therein, means for operating said locking-lug, and means on the locking-lug frame operatable bythe locking-lug for interfering with the forward travel of the firingpin when the locking-lug is unlocked.

14. In a gun, a frame, a reciprocating breech-bolt mounted therein, a locking-lug frame secured to the breech-bolt, means for operating the locking-lug frame and the breech-bolt, a sprocket-wheel mounted adjacent to the line of travel of the breechbolt, a cam secured to the locking-lug frame and extending forward under the breechbolt and moving in unison therewith, and means connecting the sprocket-wheel with said cam whereby the sprocket-wheel is operated. Y

15. In a gun, a frame, a breech-bolt and breech-bolt locking mechanism, a sprocket wheel parallel with the breech-bolt having the teeth on its central part out away to receive a cartridge carrying belt,-a spring in the body of said sprocket for rotating it, a spur gear connected with said spring for winding it up, a segmental gear adapted to intermittently engage and operate said spur gear, means for operating said segmental gear, a stop adapted to intermittently engage the teeth of said sprocket, a fiexible cartridge carrying belt operating in the depression in said sprocket wheel, clips on said belt to removably hold cartridges, to be engaged by the teeth of the sprocket, and a hinged lever contacting with the cartridges between the teeth of said sprocket to retain them in contact therewith.

16. In a gas operated gun, a barrel, a

cylinder under the barrel, a support con# thereon, a conical head on said stud and a passage from the upper part of said chamber into the cylinder. n

17. In a gas operated gun, a barrel, a cylinder thereunder, 'a support connecting the barrel and cylinder, a chamber in said support, a passage from the top thereof to the bore of the barrel,a screw-plug for closing the bottom of the chamber, a standard on said screw-plug approximately in line with the passage to the bore'of the barrel, a conical head on said standard, a passage from the chamber into the cylinder, and a thumb-screw between the chamber and the end of the cylinder for adjusting the capacity of said passage.

In testimony whereof I aiX my Signature.

JOHN C. STURGEON. 

